Lecture: Ecological and evolutionary genetics: part 2 (2KP)

Information on the lecture; see also Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Lecturer

Prof. Mathias Kölliker, Ass Prof SNF, Universität Basel, Zoologisches Institut, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel
E-mail: mathias.koelliker-at-unibas.ch; Web: evolution.unibas.ch/koelliker

First meeting

Wednesday, 03.03.2010, 12:15 Uhr; Small lecture hall (1. Floor), Zoologisches Institut, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel; duration approx. 30 Min.

Day, time and location

Tuesday, 15:15 - 17:00; Small lecture hall (1. Floor), Zoologisches Institut, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel.

intro

Aims of the lecture

Phenotypic evolution in response to selection can only happen if the selected trait variants are inherited. The study of the inheritance of phenotypes is thus of central importance for our understanding of teh evolutionary process. The main aim of the lecture is to provide a thorough introduction to the theoretical and experimental study of phenotypic evolution through selection and inheritance, focussing on quantitative characters. Many, if not most, phenoypic traits are continuous in nature. Such traits do not directly reflect one or the other allele at a given locus, but rather a complex combination of allelic and expressed variation over many loci across the genome, and of environmental influences. Examples are morphological characters like body size, many secondary sexual characters (ornaments) and behaviours, and many others. Phenotypes are often complex. Can we still predict evolutionary change? How can we study the inheritance and selection of phenotypes experimentally? If you are

The interested student should have previous knowledge on principles in evolutionary biology, and have passed the lecture "Entstehung des Lebens und Evolution" (Dozenten: D. Ebert, W. Salzburger) or an equivalent course. The previous participation in the course "Ökologische und evolutive Genetik: Teil 1" (Lecturer: D. Ebert/J.-C. Walser) is an advantage, but not requirement.

Specific content

  • Overview over the scientific history shaping the development of a theory of phenotypic evolution
  • The relation between genotype and phenotype: genetic, maternal and environmental influences
  • The relation between fitness and the phenotype: directional and non-linear selection
  • The experimental study of patterns of trait inheritance
  • The experimental study of natural and sexual selection
  • Introduction to the statistical analysis of breeding experiments
  • Complex phenotypes I: epistasis, genetic correlation, phenotypic plasticity and reaction norm evolution
  • Complex phenotypes II: extended phenotypes - direct and indirect environmental and genetic effects
  • Population differentiation and conservation genetics

Textbook

The course follows to a large extent the textbook Jeffrey K. Conner and Daniel L. Hartl. 2004. A primer of Ecological Genetics. Sunderland, MA, USA. Sinauer Associates, Inc. (ISBN: 0-87893-202-X; paperback). Please buy this book as soon as possible. We will work with the second half of the chapters treating quantitative genetics. Der first part is the basis for the lecture Ökologische und Evolutive Genetik: Teil 1, taught by Dr. Jean-Claude Walser / Prof. Ebert during fall term.

Hartl

Dies ist das Lehrbuch der Vorlesung

Scripts

The ppt slides of the lecture will be available here

Examination

To pass this course and obtain the corresponding credid points, participation is expected and the examn has to be successfully passed. The date/time for the exam will be announced in due time.